watch me make scrub & get a sneak peek of the new store!

Your California Show filmed a piece on us that aired on CBS (KCOY ch.11 in Santa Barbara) last night and will run on FOX (ch.11 in Santa Barbara) this morning. Some CBS and FOX stations in CA will run the segment and it's already up on our website press page. Check it out and get a sneak peek of the store before the Grand Opening party this Saturday, noon-6PM in downtown Santa Barbara.

~201 W Carrillo St located on the corner of Carrillo & DeLaVina streets~

Grapeseed Co. will be on CBS & FOX tonight & Friday morning!

This past Monday, Randy White from Your California Show came out to film a piece on The Grapeseed Co. that will air tonight at 6PM on CBS (KCOY ch.12) in Santa Barbara and the central coast! FOX (ch.11) will also run the segment Friday morning during their morning news programs, and it will air again on CBS during morning news Friday.

I talked with Randy about The Grapeseed Co.'s humble beginnings in my kitchen 6 years ago, and how I learned to make natural skin care products while sailing for 2 years on a 30ft boat with my boyfriend (now husband) Peter. For the first time, I let cameras into our eco-beauty kitchen (located in the back of the new Grapeseed Co. store) to film production! If you miss the live segment, or live out of the area, you can visit http://YourCaliforniaShow.com to watch the piece after it airs. I'll post the video on our blog and website as well as soon as it's available.

Randy did a fabulous job capturing the essence of what The Grapeseed Co. is all about. Thanks so much to Randy from the entire Grapeseed Co. team! We're holding the grand opening of the store this weekend from noon-6PM. Stop by and say hello if you are in downtown Santa Barbara!

The Grapeseed Company store is located at:
201 West Carrillo St. Santa Barbara (corner of Carrillo and DeLaVina)

Regular business hours start this Sunday 8/29: 
Sunday noon-5PM
Tues-Sat 11-6PM
*we will be open by appointment only on Mondays, just call 805-456-3655, tweet us @grapeseedco, or email orders (at) thegrapeseedcompany.com

Hope to see you Saturday!

cheers,

our gift to you. . .

we're extending a gift certificate from 

the store grand opening goodie bags
to you, our fabulous online customers!

 

$5 off $25 coupon code:
SBstore810

click here to shop and use your code today!

details:

Enter coupon code at checkout.

Not valid on wholesale orders orders.
One-time use only, not valid with any other coupon or discount

The Grapeseed Company to Open First Retail Location in Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara, CA, August 24, 2010 – The Grapeseed Company, a Santa Barbara-based manufacturer of eco-friendly bath and body products, is opening the doors to their first retail location at 201 W. Carrillo Street on August 28, 2010. Opening day events will include a custom scent bar to create your own fragrance, mini treatments, do-it-yourself spa recipes to take home and refreshments. Goodie bags will be handed out to the first 50 customers.

“This is an exciting time for The Grapeseed Company, and an important step in expanding our business,” commented Kristin Fraser Cotte, CEO of The Grapeseed Co. “We are excited to open our doors to the local community, engage them in classes, and teach about eco-friendly practices in our products.”

Kristin founded The Grapeseed Co. in 2004 and has studied plant-derived ingredients around the globe for over a decade. Living off the grid for 2 years while sailing the Atlantic and Caribbean, she discovered the benefits of natural oils and plants used by local islanders making cosmetics in small batches. After settling in Santa Barbara, she launched a line of bath and body products centered on a local byproduct, grape seeds. Grape seeds have many health benefits, and are often tossed by winemakers after they crush their grapes. Even the packing for The Grapeseed Company’s products is eco-friendly. The paper label wrapped around the wine soap is embedded with wildflower seeds so customers can plant it and create a beautiful garden. Each formulation is handmade on site with organic and locally grown ingredients, which is important to the owners, as well as the Santa Barbara community. Customers will be able to learn how to make their own natural skin care through classes, parties and special events at the store in addition to the custom scent bar, where you can create your own lotion, body wash or massage oil daily from 11-6pm.

Grapeseed Co. products can be found at specialty retailers across the USA, UK and online at www.grapeseedco.com. The full line, including their pet care, Dirty Dog Organics, will now be available at the store.

The Grapeseed Co.’s bath, body & skincare products are made from the finest natural and organic ingredients. The entire collection contains pure expeller pressed grape seeds, a natural, antioxidant rich byproduct of wine making. The paraben, sulfate and phthalate free line is scented with scrumptious blends of natural plant oils and essences.
Contact pr@thegrapeseedcompany.com for more information or visit online at www.thegrapeseedcompany.com.

The Organic View: The Grapes of Wrath A Quest For Truth In The Safe Cosmetics Act

I was June Stoyer's guest this morning on The Organic View on Blog Talk Radio. We discussed how The Grapeseed Co. came to be, the proposed Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, and how it will harm small, eco-friendly businesses like The Grapeseed Co. If you are wondering why green companies are AGAINST The Safe Cosmetics Act, I urge you to tune in to the recorded podcast below...

The Grapes of Wrath A Quest For Truth In The Safe Cosmetics Act 8/20/2010 - The Organic View | Blog Talk Radio

You can always visit our informational portal, Personal Care Truth, for science backed info on cosmetics and personal care products from industry experts. Please keep small green companies like mine alive. Sign the petition to Oppose the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010

The Grapeseed Company Store Grand Opening 8/28

Join us Saturday August 28, 2010
from
12-6 pm
for 

The Grapeseed Company Store 
Grand Opening 

201 West Carrillo St. 

 in downtown Santa Barbara

on the corner of Carrillo and De La Vina Streets

Enjoy refreshments on the patio, product samples,
goodie bags for the first 50 customers, 

mini spa treatments and
DIY eco beauty kitchen recipes to take home!

for more info contact 
pr@thegrapeseedcompany.com 
See you there!

green DIY project: new life for lamp shades

As I've mentioned, we're in the process of opening the first Grapeseed Company store in downtown Santa Barbara! My sister-in-law, Maria, came out to visit this past weekend from and help out. Maria has the amazing (and rare) background of being an engineer with an MBA who is super creative, loves craft projects and to top it off, is a mom of 4. She was full of great ideas and helpful advice with setting up the store.

I needed to do something about the three cool chandeliers with gross, old stained lampshades hanging above our heads. I priced out replacing the shades and that was a bit too expensive for the custom size, so we sought out alternative options! I managed to save some major $green$ with this simple DIY project by recovering the 12 old shades on the funky chandeliers. We brainstormed ideas for little girl birthday, bachelorette and other parties and classes that will start up this September while doing this fun, easy project. I love they results, and you can't beat the price...supply cost was only $25!!

side note: I own the items below with *, it will cost a bit more if you need to pick up the rotary cutter supplies.

you'll need:
~decorative paper, rice paper or some pretty handmade paper (try a craft or fine paper store)
~rotary cutter*, board* and large ruler*
~scissors*
~measuring tape*
~spray adhesive
~tacky glue
~ribbon or some type of edging material (we used raffia)
~old lampshade(s)

directions:
First, we removed the stained rippled sheer overlay fabric, stripping the shade down to liner and frame.

Then we measured the width and circumference of the shades and cut 12 pieces of paper to the exact shad size. Then, we lightly spayed sections of the shade frame with spray adhesive, and laid paper down in small sections, trying to prevent wrinkles. Luckily I chose a pattern that worked well with a few wrinkles since this was our first attempt at this project!

Next, we applied raffia edging with tacky glue to the bottom and top of the shade to give it a finished, natural look.

After the shades were dry, I hopped on a ladder and popped the new shades into place! I love how they tie together with the wood floor refinish and the bamboo display wall while giving a pop of color.

We're just getting started with the displays, which is the fun part! More pics of the store are coming soon, Join us on twitter @grapeseedco or facebook/thegrapeseedcompany to follow updates. We're gearing up to open our doors... our Grand Opening party will be Sat. 8/28/10 at 201 West Carrillo Street in downtown Santa Barbara. Hope to see you there!